Civil Engineer Salary in Charlottesville, VA: $91,597 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Charlottesville, VA earns a median $91,597/year (≈ $44.04/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Charlottesville's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 99.1), that paycheck buys what $92,386 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.3% below the Virginia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
For 2026, civil engineers in Charlottesville, Virginia, can expect a median annual salary of $91,597, which is approximately 11.49% lower than the national median of $103,492. Salary ranges for this profession vary widely, with the lowest 10% earning around $68,362 and the highest 90% reaching $154,982. This information comes from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys, highlighting a dynamic employment market shaped by local industries. In Charlottesville, the divisions amongst consulting firms, government positions, and construction roles significantly influence civil engineer pay, as employers such as AECOM and Jacobs generally offer higher compensation than local public works departments or federal agencies.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $68,362 | $32.86 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $82,412 | $39.63 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $91,597 | $44.04 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $125,547 | $60.36 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $154,982 | $74.51 |
Median Salary Position
11.49% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Charlottesville
In Charlottesville, VA, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $86,620 (2026 est.). At $91,597, the local median is 11.49% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Charlottesville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Charlottesville Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Charlottesville median: $91,597/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Charlottesville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Average | $96,724 | -5.30% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -11.49% less |
Civil Engineers in Charlottesville, VA earn a median of $91,597 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.49% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 5.30% below the Virginia state average of $96,724.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Charlottesville has a cost of living 0.85% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Charlottesville, VA has a cost-of-living index of 99.146 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $91,597 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $92,386 in an average-cost city — an effective 0.86% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$86,240
2025 BLS Actual
$89,250
2026 Current Est.
$91,597
2019–2027 Growth
+9.0%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Charlottesville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $86,240 | Actual |
| 2020 | $84,660 | Actual |
| 2021 | $82,370 | Actual |
| 2022 | $81,490 | Actual |
| 2023 | $85,570 | Actual |
| 2024 | $95,410 | Actual |
| 2025 | $89,250 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $91,597 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $94,006 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Charlottesville metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 3.5% from $86,240 (2019) to $89,250 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $94,006 by 2027 — a total increase of $7,766 (9.01%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Charlottesville metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.63% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $68,362 – $82,412 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $82,412 – $91,597 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $91,597 – $125,547 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $125,547 – $154,982 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Charlottesville
In terms of opportunities, Charlottesville's job market shows healthy demand for civil engineers, reflecting a growth rate of 2.63% annually. With a cost of living index of 99.146, the region is slightly below the national average, making take-home pay relatively promising. The highest salaries typically originate from top-tier engineering consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs, while local government jobs or smaller construction companies may lag behind in compensation. Various factors, including the necessity of a PE license for higher-paying positions and specialization in areas like structural or geotechnical engineering, contribute to the pay spectrum. For civil engineers eyeing maximized income in Charlottesville, pursuing licensure and seeking employment with leading firms can yield better financial rewards, especially given the ongoing uptick in infrastructure spending due to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
More salary data for Charlottesville, VA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Chen, P.E.
Career Analyst
Jordan Chen has 10 years of experience in structural engineering. He works primarily in urban infrastructure projects.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $89,250 for civil engineersin the Charlottesville metropolitan area. A 2.63% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.63%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for civil engineers (SOC 17-2051).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Chen, P.E., a licensed civil engineer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov